Imperial Husband Chapter 85

Chapter 85

The sun set in the west.

Liu Rong, who had been waiting for Li Jin and the others to return, rushed forward as soon as he saw their figures. "Young Master Li, you're back? Please come in and sit down. I just prepared some food."

"Amu, you should sit down. Didn't we eat sweet potatoes before we left? Have you forgotten what Physician Shi said about you needing more rest?" Dongzi, who had returned with them, couldn't help but step forward to support the unsteady-footed Liu Rong and help him sit down.

Liu Rong said helplessly, "Dongzi, I'm already much better. It's fine."

"No." Dongzi shook his head. "What if something happens? Amu, you sit. I'll handle the rest. And next time you want to prepare food, I can do it."

After saying this, Dongzi quickly hurried to the kitchen to bring out the dishes, determined not to let Liu Rong overexert himself anymore.

"Apologies."

Liu Rong smiled apologetically at Li Jin and the others.

To be honest.

Dongzi's actions just now had indeed made Liu Rong somewhat embarrassed, especially with Li Jin and the others watching. Of course, besides feeling a little embarrassed, what Liu Rong felt most in his heart was warmth.

"It's alright." Li Jin gave a light laugh and sat down. "By the way, there's something I forgot to tell you, Rong Fulang. In about two more days, I will be leaving Liujia Village to head into Zhuzhou City."

Ying Yuan also said, "We've been a disturbance during this time."

Liu Rong immediately expressed regret, "So soon? Can't you stay a few more days, Young Master Li?"

Li Jin and the others had helped the Liu family immensely, and Liu Rong truly wished to thank them properly.

"Apologies, we have urgent matters and cannot delay."

"In that case, there's no helping it."

Hearing this, Liu Rong did not continue to press them to stay.

"The food is here."

Suddenly, Dongzi's cheerful voice as he entered carrying the dishes interrupted their conversation and lightened the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

"Huh? Where's Dashu?"

Noticing Dashu's obvious absence, Dongzi's eyes flashed with confusion.

It was no wonder Dongzi reacted this way.

Usually, when Dongzi invited Dashu to his home, Dashu would almost always agree without a second thought. This sudden disappearance was a first.

Li Jin replied meaningfully, "Dashu said he had some matters at home and went back first."

"Ah? He went back? Why didn't he tell me?"

Dongzi's voice immediately carried a hint of dejection.

"Dongzi, come sit and eat. The food won't taste good when it's cold." Liu Rong, seeing Dongzi's dejection over Dashu leaving without a word, quickly urged him to sit and began chatting about everyday matters, preventing Dongzi from dwelling on Dashu.

"Mm."

Since Liu Rong said so, Dongzi could only suppress the disappointment in his heart and chatted with Liu Rong, Li Jin, and the others.

After the meal.

Ying Yuan was invited to Li Jin's room. Upon entering and seeing Li Jin sitting and reading a book, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "A-Jin, you wanted to see me?"

"Mm." Li Jin nodded, put down the book in his hand, and pointed to a table. "Look over there."

Ying Yuan immediately followed Li Jin's gaze. "Saltpeter?"

On the table placed in the corner of Li Jin's room were all the saltpeter lumps they had gathered that day. Moreover, on the table there were also utensils typically used for decocting medicine.

"A-Yuan, come sit here."

After saying this, Li Jin stood up and went to sit by the table covered with saltpeter lumps.

"Alright."

Although Ying Yuan didn't know what Li Jin intended to do, he obediently went over and sat down.

"Watch closely."

Li Jin immediately picked up a piece of earth containing saltpeter, placed it on a cloth, and crushed it. He then poured the crushed material into a medicine decoction pot, added water, soaked it, and stirred it evenly with a spoon. He repeated this action several times until he felt it was sufficient. Then, he had Ping'an come in, take the decoction pot, and heat it to remove the water content.

Not long after.

Ping'an brought back the earth containing saltpeter that had been processed according to Li Jin's instructions.

"Is that it?"

Ying Yuan widened his eyes and curiously poked the still-warm lump of earth with his finger.

Li Jin gently ruffled Ying Yuan's hair. "Not yet. We have to wait for it to cool before proceeding to the next step."

"Alright, then we'll wait a bit longer." This unique processing method of Li Jin's was something Ying Yuan was seeing for the first time, so he didn't lose interest due to the wait but grew even more expectant. "By the way, A-Jin, unless I saw wrong earlier, did the water freeze?"

While Li Jin was stirring the earth-water mixture earlier, Ying Yuan had already noticed the water freezing, his eyes full of incredulity. However, not wanting to disturb Li Jin, he had held back his question until Li Jin finished.

Li Jin nodded. "Saltpeter can indeed be used to make ice, but that ice absolutely must not be consumed. If used improperly, it can cause severe diarrhea."

The methods for processing saltpeter in ancient times were ultimately crude, not comparable to the refined saltpeter produced with modern equipment. Therefore, Li Jin explained the serious consequences of ingestion from the start, lest Ying Yuan be tempted to try out of curiosity.

Li Jin's words successfully dispelled Ying Yuan's thought of tasting it. However, Ying Yuan still looked at Li Jin excitedly. "A-Jin, after we leave Liujia Village, let's try making ice, okay? I want to try it myself."

a common man is not guilty, but possessing a precious jade becomes his crime.

[匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪 (pǐ fū wú zuì, huái bì qí zuì): lit. a common man is not guilty, but possessing a precious jade becomes his crime; fig. a person can be blamed or persecuted not for a fault, but simply for possessing something valuable or desirable that others covet]

The reason Ying Yuan didn't suggest trying it in Liujia Village was his fear that if villagers saw it and inadvertently learned the method, they might bring unforeseeable disaster upon themselves.

After all, the profits from ice-making were not small, far beyond what a small village like Liujia could protect.

"Alright." Li Jin nodded in agreement. "You think things through, A-Yuan."

"A-Jin, you actually thought of this point from the beginning, didn't you?"

Seeing that Li Jin knew saltpeter could make ice yet didn't mention it at all in front of Dongzi and the others, Ying Yuan understood the underlying stakes.

"Perhaps."

Li Jin smiled without giving a direct answer.

Ying Yuan wasn't one to dwell on a single issue. Seeing Li Jin didn't want to continue the topic, he subtly shifted the conversation. "A-Jin, look quickly, there's something in the earth lumps."

Ying Yuan pointed at the crystals embedded within the earth lumps, unable to hide his excitement.

"They're really pretty."

Ying Yuan couldn't help but pick up a small crystal to examine it closely.

"This is the saltpeter crystal I wanted." Li Jin also picked up a small crystal, saying meaningfully, "If conditions allowed, I'd really like to try and see if we could make glass."

The uses of saltpeter were widespread, it was also needed for making glass.

"What is glass?"

Hearing this, Ying Yuan's curiosity was piqued again.

"A good thing." Li Jin looked at Ying Yuan with a smile, saying nonchalantly, "It's just that we only have saltpeter on hand now. The book mentions other materials needed to make glass, which we don't have, so we can't make it yet."

"We can search for them slowly."

"Sure. If we gather them all, we can try making it."

"A-Jin, what exactly is that book you mentioned? How does it have so many strange things?"

"That, I don't know either." Li Jin shrugged, responding calmly. "Speaking of which, that book was given to me by the old gentleman who helped treat my illness. Stranger still, the book didn't even have a name, so I don't know what book it is."

Li Jin had told Ying Yuan about his recovery a year ago, using the excuse of an old gentleman's help. So now, Li Jin conveniently attributed everything he knew to that old gentleman, ensuring that even if he discovered other strange things in the future, it wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Ying Yuan listened and nodded. "Is that so? Then forget it. Let's continue. This time I'll do it."

"Should I help too?"

"Mm, let's do it together."

"A-Yuan, don't crush too much earth at once; it won't fit."

"Is this okay?"

"Almost, a little less."

"How about this?"

"Good."

"Then I'll continue..."

The next day.

Liu Rong's doorway was blocked by villagers, with the village chief standing at the front.

Seeing the situation, the village chief's expression immediately darkened. "What are you all doing? This is Rong Fulang's doorway. Didn't we agree to talk with Rong Fulang? Blocking it like this is unacceptable. Step back at once."

One of the villagers blocking the door complained, "Village Chief, we just wanted to make sure Rong Fulang understood the seriousness of the situation, so he wouldn't think to keep anything to himself."

The village chief was angered by their foolish behavior and sternly rebuked them, "You... all of you, step back. If you keep doing this, I'm leaving right now."

Hearing the chief threaten to leave, the blocking villagers backed down and stepped aside.

They had come to ask the village chief to persuade Liu Rong to reveal the location of the sweet potatoes. If the village chief left because of them, all their efforts would be in vain.

Seeing the villagers finally quiet down, the village chief called out, "Rong Fulang? Is Rong Fulang at home?"

Creak.

Before long, Liu Rong opened the door and stepped out, looking puzzled. "Village Chief, what is all this..."

Dongzi followed Liu Rong out. Unlike Liu Rong’s calm demeanor, Dongzi immediately moved to stand protectively in front of him upon seeing the large crowd.

The village chief explained the village's current situation to Liu Rong with difficulty. "It's like this… the other villagers felt they had no choice but to come."

If he could have avoided it, the village chief wouldn’t have come either. After all, Liu Rong already had his hands full with only one young son and a newborn at home. Not to mention, the young masters staying with him were clearly people of status—not the kind anyone would want to offend. But with the famine worsening in the village, the village chief truly had no other option but to knock on Liu Rong’s door.

Liu Rong thought for a moment before replying, "Actually, the sweet potatoes were found by a distant relative of my late husband. It’s not my place to decide. Why don’t you come inside with me, Village Chief, and speak with them directly?"

As soon as Liu Rong said this, some of the more hot-headed villagers immediately lashed out, hurling harsh accusations.

"Liu Rong! With the whole village starving, how can you act so high and mighty?"

"Exactly, exactly! You clearly can make the decision. Liu Rong, are you doing this on purpose? Saying this so those people can refuse, and starve us to death?"

"Liu Rong, if I starve to death, I'll become a vengeful ghost and haunt you every night!"